Red Mile. Crack Cloud

Crack Cloud? The name did not ring a single bell. Boy, has the Canadian band changed that for me. With it's third album called Red Mile Crack Cloud has put itself on my radar and I am pretty convinced it will do so on many other people's.

On Wikipedia the band is described as more than just a band. Crack Cloud is "a Canadian musical and multimedia collective". This suggest more than just music. As this ia a music blog, I'm going to focus on that category. The band formed in 2015 around drummer and frontman Zack Choy. It released two EPs and albums before. After signing to Jagjaguwar, Red Mile is Crack Cloud's first released since.

I understand that the album is a big departure from what went before, described as far more experimental. Having listened to Red Mile for several times now, what I derive at is The Clash in 2024. With more electronics/synths but just as experimental in the sense that the next song can go into any direction, just like on 'London Calling' and even more on 'Sandinista'.

The second feature I truly like is the male-female fronted vocals. So, who else is singing besides Zach Choy? It could be Emma Acs, Mackenzie Cruse or Eve Adams. I do not have the information to enlighten you here. The band consists of no less than ten members. In 2024 there are already more former members than current ones and there is a host of associates, whatever it is that they do. It is clear, Crack Cloud is not your regular band.

Musically just as much happens. Songs are the starting points. Intricate arrangements play themselves out. With strings, synths, guitars, percussion, horns and what not. Each song is more than just a song. Several musical surprises can be heaped upon the listener, without ever sounding like the band is overdoing things or posing. The result is a listening trip Crack Cloud takes its listeners on, like a true musical adventure.

It is not even that all songs are spectacular. They do not have to be. It is the musicality that scores here. Take 'Lack Of Lack'. It starts with just the bass playing the chord sequence. In come sone strings playing an eastern melody. Next is a mysterious sound that could (both) be a dark guitar and deep piano notes. To all appearances this seems like an instrumental song developing itself, slowly but surely. With all instruments joining. After two minutes Choy starts singing with just the bass behind him. A little psychedelia comes into the song and then out of the blue a saxophone joins, following the eastern melody but setting the whole song on its head. Towards the end, the song explodes and starts to rock. So many unexpected turns and all contained well within five minutes.

'Lack Of Lack' is the kind of song that tells me why it remains so interesting to keep on the lookout for new bands. In this case it goes for the whole of Red Mile. At the first listening session it took me about four songs to know that I better start paying serious attention. It paid off.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght

You can listen to and buy Red Mile here:

https://crackcloud.bandcamp.com/album/red-mile